CHICAGO, Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Fannie Mae (OTCBB:FNMA-Free Report), Freddie Mac (OTCBB:FMCC-Free Report), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM-Free Report), Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC-Free Report) and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC-Free Report).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:

FHFA Recovers $8B from RMBS Settlements

After more than two years of filing lawsuits against 18 major financial institutions, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has recovered approximately $8 billion for taxpayers. While filing the lawsuit in Sep 2011, the FHFA had accused the banks of violating several federal securities laws and common law while selling $200 billion worth of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) to Fannie Mae (OTCBB:FNMA-Free Report) and Freddie Mac (OTCBB:FMCC-Free Report) in 2005-2007.

The financial institutions that have settled these charges include JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM-Free Report), from which the biggest amount was recovered by the FHFA ($4.0 billion). The financial terms of settlements with several other banks were not revealed, as the FHFA continued the process of negotiations.

Additionally, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC-Free Report), which was not part of the above-mentioned litigation, agreed to settle similar charges for $335.2 million in Nov 2013. Wells Fargo was able to evade the lawsuit as its lawyers were already in negotiation with the FHFA regarding a settlement.

The litigation is still pending against 12 banks including Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC-Free Report), which next in line to settle the charges is expected to be BofA as a federal court in Manhattan will be hearing the case in June. The FHFA is seeking roughly $6 billion from BofA along with Countrywide Financial Corp. and Merrill Lynch & Co. (these two acquired in 2008) to settle the charges.

Such settlements are expected to aid in further revival of the economy. Moreover, such moves by banks demonstrate their aim to resolve all mortgage-related issues, thereby reducing costs over the upcoming period. Alongside, these strategic decisions are likely to bode well for banks and boost investors' confidence as well.

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today.

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros.

Get the full Report on FNMA - FREE

Get the full Report on FMCC - FREE

Get the full Report on JPM- FREE

Get the full Report on WFC - FREE

Get the full Report on BAC - FREE

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

support@zacks.com

http://www.zacks.com

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.